Born in High Point, North Carolina, Daniels attended High Point Senior High, where he wrestled for three years. After high school, Daniels served in the US Navy from 1951 to 1953. Recruited by Coach R.W. Red Watkins to wrestle at Appalachian State University, Daniels gave up a good-paying job, relocated to Boone, and enjoyed an undefeated career as a Mountaineer, securing multiple AAU championships.

Graduating from Appalachian in 1958, Daniels secured his first job as a wrestling coach at Pfeiffer College from 1963 to 1966. Daniels' Pfeiffer teams posted a record of 32-7-2 in three seasons before he joined the wrestling staff at North Carolina State University. Following the sudden death of Wolfpack Coach Al Crawford in 1967, Daniels was promoted to head coach at NC State, leading the Wolfpack for seven years. He amassed a record of 60-36-3, maintaining a winning record each season. Stepping down as head coach in 1974, Daniels continued at NC State until his retirement in 1994, teaching physical education and wrestling classes.

A wrestling official for six decades, Daniels began refereeing after leaving the military and remained active until 2014. Additionally, he served as an instructor at the Appalachian State University summer wrestling camps for over forty years.

Daniels is a distinguished member of the Appalachian State Hall of Fame (1982) and the North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2005). In 2024, Daniels received the Bill Mayhew "Legacy in Wrestling" Award presented by the North Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association.